A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ayton, Fanny

by Alexis Chitty

AYTON, Fanny, born 1806 at Macclesfield, was taught singing by Manielli at Florence, and first appeared in Italy, so successfully that Ebers engaged her for the season of 1827 at the King's Theatre, at a salary of £500. She made her appearances there as Ninetta in 'La Gazza' (Feb. 3), and as Fiorilla in 'Il Turco in Italia.' In the same year she sang at Drury Lane in an English version of 'Il Turco' and as Rosetta in 'Love in a Village.' She also played in the provinces, and sang in concerts with fair success. In 1829 she sang at the Birmingham Festival in opera with Malibran and Michael Costa. In 1831 she sang again at the King's Theatre for the season, as Creusa, in 'Medea' (Simon Mayr), and she played Isabel in a mutilated version of 'Robert' ('The Dæmon, or the Mystic Branch,' Feb. 21, 1832), after which she disappears from view. She had considerable execution, a piquancy and taste of her own, a certain ease on the stage, and a great fluency in Italian. But she had the misfortune to compete with some of the greatest Italian singers, and her intonation gave way after her first season. (Chorley.) A portrait of her, drawn and engraved by B. Holl, was published in July, 1828.

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